Adjustable rotary pump head



July 4, 1939. e. T. PFLEGER ADJUSTABLE ROTARY PUMP HEAD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Original Filed Feb. 19, 1934 mun/111,011,.

INVENTOR A TTQRNE J y 4, 1939- G. TQPFLEGER 2,164,837

ADJUSTABLE ROTARY PUMP HEAD Original Filed Feb. 19, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTOR A TTORNEY Patented July4, .1939

ADJUSTABLE ROTARY PUMP HEAD George '1. Pfleger, Los Angeles, Calif.,assignor to U. S. Electrical Motors, Inc., a corporation of CaliforniaApplication February 19, 1934, Serial No. 111,918 Renewed October 12,1937 Claims.

This invention relates to vertical rotary pumps and'particularly to anelectric motor which is constructed for use with vertical rotary pumps.

A common form of a vertical rotary pump com- 5 prises a pump sectionwhich is secured to the lower end of a column pipe near the bottom ofagwell. The column pipe extends to the top of the well where it issecured to a discharge head. The impellers of the pump section arerotated by a. pump shaft which extends from the pump section through thecolumn pipe, to the discharg head.

In most cases the pump shaft will be of sumcient length to require theuse of several members coupled together to form abontinuous drive shaft.

Bearings may be provided inside of the pump section and at intervalsthroughout the length of the column pipe for the radial support of thepump shaft. It is not, however, convenient to axially support the pumpshaft atmore than One location.

The axial load on the pump shaft created by the pump and by the weightof the pump shaft is in most instances of suiiicient magnitude torequire the use of a bearing structure having relatively large physicaldimensions. It is thusadvantageous to place the bearing structureoutside of the column pipe where it will not impede the discharge flowof the pump.

In order to obtain the best operating characteristics of the pump it isimportant that the pump impellers be maintained atthe proper axialposition within the pump bowls. This, of course, precludes any operatingcondition under which the rotating parts are axially supported bymembers other than the'bearing structure provided for that purpose.

It is thus advantageous to provide convenient means whereby the pumpshaft may be axially adjusted to accommodate the operating requirementsof the pump.

In this invention the driving motor is supported in a vertical positionwith its shaft in driving relation and coaxial with the pump'shaft.

It is one object of this invention to provide a vertical rotary pumphaving .a driving motor which may be directly supported on the dischargehead of the pump.

It is another object of this invention to axially support. the pumpshaft by means of an accessibly located bearing structure, which may beeasily replaced.

' It is still another object of this invention to provide an accessiblebearing structure for axially supporting the pump shaft which imposes nounfavorable restrictions on the electrical characteristics of the motor.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a verticalrotary pump having a direct connected driving motor and an axiallyadjustable pump shaft, the construction of which is so coordinated thatno unfavorable limitations are placed on the operation of any of themembers of the mechanism.

It is still another object of this invention to provide accessible meanswhereby the pump shaft may be accurately located with respect to therotating structure of the driving motor.

It is still another object of this invention to provide means wherebythe pump shaft may be disconnected from the driving motor when operatingconditions arise underwhich the pump shaft is vertically supported bymeans other than the bearing structure provided for that purpose.

It is still another object of this invention to provide quicklyreplaceable means whereby the maximum torque, transmitted by the drivingmotor to the pump shaft, is limited to a predetermined value.

It 'is still another object of this invention to provide a rotary pumpstructure having accessible means for axial adjustment of the pump shaftand in which the driving motor may be installed almost completelyassembled.

It is still another object of this invention to provide accessiblemeans'whereby the pump shaft may be axially adjusted during the activeoperation of the pump and while the motor is completely assembled.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objectswhich may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of anembodiment of the invention. For this purpose there is shown a form inthe drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification.detail, which illustrates the general principles of the invention; butit is to be understood that this detailed descriptionis not to be takenin a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined bythe appended claims. 1

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is an elevational view of the driving motor and of the pump shaftin an embodiment of the invention; a portion of the view being shown insection.

Fig. 2 is an elevatlonal view of the discharge This form' shall now bedescribed in I head and of the lower portion of the motor of Fig. l.

An electric motor 5, Fig. i, is shown mounted in a vertical position.Motor [1 has a stator 2 and a rotor 3. Stator 2 is shown supported onand centered by a bottom adapter bracket 1 which locates motor l in theproper relation to the stationary pump structure. A bearing supportingbracket 5 is mounted above stator 2 and is centered and supported by thestator.

Rotor 3 is mounted on a hollow rotor shaft ti which is rotatablysupported at its lower end by bearing 1. Bearing i has an inner racewhich is pressed against a shoulder 8 and centered on a cylindricalsurface 9 of the rotor shaft. Bearing 1 has an outer race which iscentered by an extended cylindrical surface it formed on the interiorwall of bearing housing 6 H, which may be formed integral with adapterbracket 4. Cylindrical surface it is formed coaxial with rotor shaft 6.thus serving to maintain bearing 7! coaxial with the bearing housingirrespective of any axial movement of the rotor shaft. Bearing housingll may be provided with a bearing cap l2 which serves to exclude foreignmatter from the bearing housing and to limit the axial movement ofbearing 1.

A thrust bearing i3 is provided at the upper end of rotor shaft 6 forthe axial and radial support of rotor shaft 6 and pump shaft M.

The inner race of bearing i3 is mounted on a coupling member l5 which isin turn keyed to the rotor shaft and held between a shoulder it, formedon the rotor shaft, and lock nut H, which engages a threaded portion itof the rotor shaft. The rotor shaft is thus constrained to follow anyvertical movement of the inner race of bearing I3. It is evident fromthe construction that the structure supported by bearing it) may bevertically adjusted by adjusting the vertical position of bearing 63.One construction by which this adjustment may be accomplished will nowbe described. In this form the outer race of bearing i3 is mountedinside of an axially movable hearing housing I9. Bearing housing [19 isprovided with an external threaded portion Ell. Thread it is formedcoaxial with the rotor shaft. Threaded portion 20 engages an internalthread it formed on bearing supporting bracket 5.

A rotation of bearing housing it thus produces a corresponding axialmovement of bearing housing E9, of bearing 13, and of all the structuresup ported by hearing l3.

Bearing housing l9 may be locked in any angular or axial position bymeans of locking bolt 22 which forces soft metallic plug 23 intofrictional contact with thread 20.

Bearing housing I9 is provided with a canopy cap 24 which serves toexclude moisture and foreign matter from the bearing housing and alsoserves to prevent falling liquid from entering the ventilation openings64 of the motor. Canopy cap- 24 may be secured to bearing housing H! bymeans of bolts 25. Thus a rotation of cap 24 also results in an equalrotation of bearing housing l9. Locking bolt 22 may be convenientlylocated near the rim of cap 24 so that bearing housing is and theassociated structure may be axially adjusted while the motor and pumpare fully assembled.

A wrench engaging head 26 may be provided for the canopy cap to aid inrotating bearing housing I9. Bearing housing l9 may be likewise directlyrotated by securing a pipe wrench to amass? surface??? or by means of aspanner wrench which engages the holes tapped for bolts 25.

The manner in which the rotor is rotatably supported and axiallyadjusted has been disclosed. Consider now the manner in which the pumpshaft is driven by the motor and axially adjusted with respect to therotor.

Pump shaft id is shown extending through the hollow rotor shaft to thetop of the motor. The top end of the pump shaft is provided with athreaded portion 23 which is engaged by nut 2%. Nut 2d bears against acoupling member 3b which is in turn vertically supported by couplingmember secured to the rotor shaft. By rotating nut is the pump shaft canbe axially adjusted with respect to the rotor and to thrust bearing i3.Nut 29 may be locked in position by screw 36 tapped into coupling member3E9.

Coupling member is provided with an external cylindrical surface 39,formed coaxial with the rotor shaft, which engages an internalcylindrical surface 32 formed on coupling member 30. Coupling member 30is in turn located with respect to the pump shaft by means of aninternal cylindrical surface 33 which is formed coaxial with surface 32.Coupling members i5 and 30 thus serve to accurately locate the pumpshaft coaxially with the rotor shaft and with the supporting bearingstructure. I

It is evident from the construction that coupling member 38 can beinserted in place after the pump be made relatively large, thus avoidinginconvenience and the danger of bending the pump shaft while the motoris being set into position.

Coupling members it and till are provided with driving pins 35 whichserve a triple purpose. Driving pins 34 may be secured to coupling 30and may engage holes 35 formed in member it. If the pump shaftisvertically supported by means other than the thrust bearing 93, pins 38will be lifted out of holes 35 thereby disengaging the pump shaft fromthe driving motor.

Under normal operating conditions the motor torque is transmitted frommember 85 to member 39 by the shearing stress set up in pins 34,coupling member 30 being in turn suitably keyed to pump shaft M. By asuitable design this shearing stress, produced under normal operatingconditions, can be made equal to the safe shearing stress of thematerial. Thus if a sudden overload is placed on the coupling, as by theseizure of some rotating part, the pins will be sheared ofi, relievingthe abnormal stress from the other members of the mechanism.

In the present construction means are provided for lubricating both ofthe bearings supported by the motor structure. Lubricant is injected tohearing housing H, which encloses lower bearing 7, by means of alubricating passage from grease cup 31 which is supported by adapterbracket 5.

Thrust bearing 13 may besupplied with lubricant by means of pipe fitting38 which is in communication with bearing housing H9. The lubricant isprevented from escaping from the bearing housing by means of acylindrical sleeve 39,

secured to bearing supporting bracket 5, which 0 pro ects into annulargroove 40 formed in cou- I this purpose passages'4l may be provided inbearing supporting bracket 5, surrounding bearing housing l9. Thesepassages may be located intermediate of the ventilating openings 64,provided in member 5, for the motor ventilation. The air drawn into themotor thusserves to cool the lubricant and the bearing.

The normal motor ventilation may be obtained by means of fans, 42 and43, mounted on the rotor, which serve to blow the air over the statorwindings 44, and over the exterior surfaces of the stator laminations45. The air travels downward through passage 46, formed between thestator laminations and an exterior shell 41; through openings 48 inthelower part of the stator; and out of the motor through openings 49,provided in the adapter bracket 4.

Fig. 2 illustrates the manner in which the motor is supported by thedischarge head. Adapter bracket 4 is provided with, a flanged surface 50which rests on flanged surface of discharge head 52. An externalcylindrical surface 53 is formed on discharge head 52 for contactinginternal cylindrical surface 54 formed on adapter bracket 4. Cylindricalsurfaces 53 and 54 are formed coaxial with the pump and rotor shafts.The contact ofv these surfaces thus serves to maintain the motorstructure in proper coaxial relation to the pump structure.

Column pipe 55 may be secured to the discharge head by suitable means,such as the screw coupling 55. The liquid being pumped flows through thedischarge head into the discharge pipe 51,.

'Pump shaft l4 may be enclosed by oil tube 58, through which lubricantmay be supplied to the bearings which radiallysupport thepump shaft. Oiltube 58 may also serve to support the radial bearings which may beprovided for the pump shaft at intervals along the length of the columnpipe. Oil tube 58 may be secured to the discharge head by means of thecoupling assembly 59. Coupling assembly 59 may be provided with abushing 50 which serves as a bearing for the pump shaft.

Discharge head 52 may be provided with apertures 8| through which theventilating air from the motor may be exhausted. Aperatures 6| alsoprovide access to bolts 62 by which the motor is secured to thedischarge head.

The pump shaft is shown joined with a coupling 63 directly abovecoupling assembly 59. The use of this construction is of particularutility where relatively large motors are used. Coupling 53 may besecured onto the portion of the pump shaft which extends into the-well.The motor may then be set into place. After the motor is in position,the short length of pump shaft, above coupling 83, may be droppedthrough the hollow rotor shaft and then may' be fastened to thecoupling. This obviates the necessity of lowering the motor over theextending portion of the pump shaft.

I claim:

1. In a vertical rotary pump mechanism, a vertical electric motor havinga stator and a rotor, a shaft connected to the rotor, a thrust bearingfor supporting the rotor and its associated parts, and means for axiallyadjusting the position of said shaft with respect to said bearing, saidmotor also having a stationary housing, open at the top, and a weatherproof cover for said'housing, said cover being vertically adjustablewith respect to said housing and having.

means to support said thrust bearing.

2. In a vertical rotary pump mechanism, a vertical electric motor havinga stator and a rotor, a shaft connected to the rotor, a thrust bearingfor supporting the rotor and its associated parts, and means for axiallyadjusting the position of said shaft with respect to said bearing, saidmotor also having a stationary housing, open at the top, and a weatherproof cover for said housing, said cover and said housing beingthreadedly secured together whereby rotation of said cover serves toadjust it vertically with respect to said housing, said cover havingmeans to support said thrust bearing.

3. In a vertical rotary pump mechanism, a vertical electric motor havinga stator and a rotor, a shaft connected to the rotor, a thrust bearingfor supporting the rotor and its-associated parts, and means for axiallyadjusting the position of said shaft with respect to said bearing,saidmotor also having a stationary housing, open at the top, a weather proofcover' for said housing, said cover and said housing being threadedlysecured together whereby rotation of said cover serves to adjust itvertically with respect to said housing, said cover having means tosupport said thrust bearing, and locking means optionally to preventrotation of said cover.

4. In a vertical rotary pump mechanism, a vertical electric motor having-a housing, a stator and a rotor, a shaft connected to the rotor, athrust bearing for supporting the rotor and its associated parts, andmeans for axially adjusting the position of said shaft with respecttosaid bearing, said housing having a stationary upper member terminatingin an open cylindrical well at the top thereof, a weather proof coverfor said housing having a central portion adapted to telescopicallyengage said well, means to support said thrust bearing on the cover, andmeans to adjust the position of the cover vertically with respect to thehousing.

5. In a vertical rotary pump mechanism, a vertical electric motor havinga housing, a stator and a rotor, a shaft connected to the rotor, athrust bearing for supporting the rotor and its associated parts, andmeans for axially adjust ing the position of said shaft with respect tosaid bearing, said housing having a stationary upper member terminatingin an open cylindrical well at the top thereof, a thread formed on theinner' surface of said well, a weather proof cover for said housing, ahollow central portion on said cover having an exterior thread adaptedto engage the thread of said well, whereby rotation of said cover servesto alter its vertical position with respect to the housing, and means insaid central portion to support said thrust bearing.

GEORGE T. PFLEGER.

